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The City Guide to Downtown Durham & The Loop. Top Stories, Events, Places, People + Giveaways. Stay Informed & Entertained. Connect: DM/Email.

City Guide to Downtown Durham & Inside Loop. Top News, Stories, Events, Places, People + More.

09/20/2025

We’ve got your festival schedule and map for the FREE 50th annual Durham CenterFest — kicking off today Saturday, September 20 from 10am-6pm and Sunday, September 21 from 11am-5pm.

Since 1974, the Durham Arts Council has hosted this historical Fine Arts Festival, named the #1 Fine Arts Festival in North Carolina and top 100 in the US.

Enjoy this beautiful weekend and tag us in your CenterFest fun!

09/19/2025

Come celebrate Durham Oktoberfest tomorrow Saturday September 20 from 3-10 pm at Durham Central Park.

Test your strength with the Stein Hoisting Competition at 5pm followed by DJ Gummy spinning tracks at the afterparty from 7-10pm.

Plus enjoy these festivities all day long:

🍺 Live music with The Oak City Polka Kings
🍺 Art market curated by The Pufferfish Project
🍺 German-style beers by The Glass Jug Beer Lab
🍺 Giant soft pretzels
🍺 Char-grilled all-beef hotdogs & brats from B-Dogs
🍺 Touch-a-Truck with the Durham Fire Department

09/18/2025

FREE HIGHER EDUCATION — Wake Forest University just announced that undergraduates from North Carolina with annual family incomes less than $200,000 will attend tuition-free starting the 2026 Fall semester.

These other benefits are also available and dependent on annual family incomes:

✔️ Less than $100,000 - cover full cost of tuition and standard living expenses
✔️ $100,000 to $200,000 - cover full cost of tuition
✔️ $200,000 to $300,000 - eligible to cover 50% of tuition

Called the “North Carolina Gateway to Wake Forest University”, the initiative aims to create more opportunities for talented, high-achieving North Carolina students to attend Wake Forest regardless of family income.

09/18/2025

Mark your calendars for the 50th Anniversary of North Carolina’s #1 Fine Arts & Crafts Festival. Durham’s FREE CenterFest takes over downtown this Saturday and Sunday, September 20 – 21.

It’s two full days of fun for all ages hosted by the Durham Arts Council.

🎨 Special 50th Anniversary Surprises
🎨 100+ Juried Artists
🎨 Multiple Stages of Live Music and Performances
🎨 Street Dancers and Unique Performers
🎨 Creative Kids Zone with Activities
🎨 Local Food and Drink Vendors

09/17/2025

FREE FOOD THURSDAY — Free Food Distribution tomorrow Thursday September 18 starting at 5:00 pm at 101 S Driver Street in East Durham.
🍎
Bring a bag, come inside and take what you need. Park at Shepard’s House UMC (107 N Driver St). For alternate pickup for folks 65+ or with physical disabilities, email: [email protected].
🍎
Food availability varies, until food runs out. No income or ID needed. Hosted by Communities in Partnership.

09/17/2025

Come out for a FREE concert tonight Wednesday September 17 starting at 6:30 pm under the Lucky Strike Water Tower at the American To***co Campus (318 Blackwell Street).

Tonight's performer is Dior Ashley Brown. Dubbed “the Hip-Hop Polymath” by The Washington Post, Dior Ashley Brown is an award-winning emcee, actor, poet, and activist whose work fuses music, politics, and performance. She’s opened for artists from Esperanza Spalding to the Wu-Tang Clan, and even shared stages with Yo-Yo Ma.

Bring your own chair, drinks, and dinner or purchase from on-site vendors.

09/17/2025

Get ready North Carolina! The World’s largest inflatable theme park The Big Bounce America is coming to Raleigh this Friday through Sunday, Sept 19 to Sept 21 at Lakeside Retreats.

Enjoy UNLIMITED play on the most unique custom-built inflatable attractions ever made. From soaring slides to wild obstacle courses, ball pits, hoops, and DJ beats that keep the energy sky-high for all ages! Adults are FREE if you don’t want to bounce.

Grab your tickets with our exclusive 15% discount code “RDT15” at https://thebigbounceamerica.com.

RIGHT NOW — we’re giving one lucky winner TWO [2] Tickets to BIG Bounce America for Saturday.

Enter on our Instagram by this Thursday September 18: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOrrIy0kda9

09/16/2025

At last night’s Durham City Council meeting — members voiced support for Police Chief Patrice Andrews following controversy over a personal social media post she made about the death of Charlie Kirk.

Mayor Leo Williams emphasized that “no one deserves to die” and reaffirmed that First Amendment rights apply to all from political activist Charlie Kirk to police chief Andrews.

“Nothing derogatory was stated. Challenging or disagreeing does not mean you are condoning violence — it means you are exercising your freedom of speech,” Williams said.

City Council does not have the authority to hire or dismiss staff; that responsibility rests with the City Manager.

Andrews, who became Durham’s police chief in 2021, is the second Black woman to lead the department bringing more than 25 years of law enforcement experience.

09/15/2025

Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews is facing criticism over a since deleted post on her personal Facebook regarding the death of Charlie Kirk.

The City of Durham has launched a review to determine whether any policies were violated.

The situation comes amid debates nationwide, where recent firings of employees have raised questions about the balance between employer authority, worker protections, and the First Amendment right to free speech.

09/13/2025

FREE MUSEUM SUNDAY — Get some FREE fun in before school starts! Enjoy Durham's renowned Museum of Life and Science for FREE tomorrow Sunday September 14.

Each Durham county resident (with proof of residence) can bring up to five children.

Located at 433 W. Murray Avenue, the Museum of Life and Science is a 84-acre museum featuring both indoor and outdoor environments and many more adventures.

Can't make it? We've got your remaining FREE Durham Community Days for the rest of 2025.

• Thursday, September 25
• Tuesday, October 7
• Wednesday, October 29
• Friday, November 7
• Sunday, November 16
• Tuesday, December 2
• Thursday, December 18

09/13/2025

Come out for an "An Afternoon in the Park" tomorrow Saturday September 13 from 12–4 PM at West Point on the Eno.

This FREE event will feature historic games (Croquet, Stick & Hoop, Bocce, TownBall), live music & community jam (1:30–3:30 PM), history tours, and local food trucks.

Proximity Brewing Company will be on-site selling beer and cider. All proceeds benefit the Durham Parks Foundation.

09/12/2025

🎁 GIVEAWAY — 2 Tickets to Hush Little Horror Circus Show at Motorco 🎁

Hush now, don’t scream! Our friends at Purple Marble Circus is hosting another amazing circus show in Durham. We’ve partner with them to give away two GA seated tickets to the Hush Little Horror Circus Show on Sunday October 12 at 7pm at Motorco.

See your favorite lullabies like Jack and Jill, Little Bo Peep, Mary Had a Little Lamb, and many more transformed into twisted Halloween tales.

Attendees will be dazzled by seasoned talent from The Triangle and surrounding areas performing contortion, high-flying aerial arts, burlesque, pole dance, acro yoga, trapeze, hooping, juggling, LED flow arts, and more.

Head to our Instagram and enter by this Tuesday September 16: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOg6gfTkYYC

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